Newsletter

Cheers: Private sector deserves praise for stepping up

One way we can ensure a better Jacksonville for tomorrow is to make sure there is hope and opportunity for youths today.

That’s why we offer a hearty “cheers” to the Haskell Co., web.com, Bi-Lo Holdings and others in Jacksonville’s private sector taking part in the Mayor’s Summer Jobs program.

Of the 580 positions made available for this year’s Summer Jobs program, about 85 are with private-sector firms. That’s an encouraging jump from last summer, when Jacksonville’s private sector provided just 20 of the program’s 670 jobs.

Cheers to the area’s private sector community for stepping up and offering more opportunities for Jacksonville youths.

NEW UNITED WAY LEADER

Under the longtime leadership of CEO Connie Hodges, the United Way of Northeast Florida made huge strides in expanding its impact and programs across the region.

And the progress hasn’t gone unnoticed or unappreciated: During its recent annual campaign, the United Way’s Northeast Florida chapter raised a whopping $20.61 million.

It is a track record of success that Michelle Braun will seek to build on now that she’s officially begun duties as the United Way of Northeast Florida’s new CEO and president.

Braun has held several positions with United Way of Northeast Florida, including chief operating officer. And she has played an active role in helping to shape its campaigns and programs, like the chapter’s popular Real Sense initiative.

Braun has huge shoes to fill in succeeding Hodges as the United Way’s new leader.

But she’s clearly well-prepared to do just that.

Cheers to Braun!

CHEERS FOR A ROAD RANGER

Wanda Sobota is a rural letter carrier who wrote an email to cheer the Road Rangers.

“I am 56 years old. I was going south on Interstate 295 in rush hour traffic, about a mile from the Blanding exit,” Sobota wrote.

“Thank goodness I had just changed lanes to the far right side. When a tire went flat, I was able to get off the highway. There I sat in disbelief with cars whizzing past me at 75 mph,” Sobota wrote.

“Then I remembered I just passed the Road Ranger guy about a mile back, helping someone else. I called 911 and got transferred to the police who contacted the Road Rangers.

“A Jacksonville police officer stopped to check on me and so did a state trooper who I asked to verify that the Road Rangers had been contacted. He did and they had.”

A short time later, Sobota wrote, “the road ranger arrived. At that moment, he looked like Superman.”

Sobota said merely an hour had passed from the time she sustained the flat tire to when she got back on the road.

“I now have a new appreciation for the Road Rangers — and how dangerous their job is,” Sobota wrote.

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